Dirigible headlight



April 7, 1925. 1 532 280 w; .v. VAN ETTEN.

DIRIGILE HEADLIGHT Filed April 8, 1924 llll 'INVENTOR WML/4M l/. qNErrE/v l TToRNEY Y Patented Apr. 7, 19251( UNl'l'El) STATES arrivi" ortica.v

WILLIAM V. VAN ETTEN, OF EVERETT, VJASHINGTON.

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT.

AppIcaton iled April S, 1924. Serial No. 704,918.

useful improvements in Dirigible Head-` lights, of which the following is a specifica` tion.

My invention relates to improvements in dirigible headlights and searchlights, and more particularly to lights of that character for use on automobiles and similar vehicles and adapted to be controlled from the vehicle steering mechanism. This invention is an improvement. on the device covered by Patent No. 1,471,635 issued to me on October 23, 1923.

It is the object of this invention to provide means whereby the direction Vof light cast from the headlights may at all times be'automatically maintained in the direction of travel of the steering wheels of theV vehicle.

More specilically it is the object of the invention to provide means for rotatably supporting a vehicle head and search light and to provide mechanism whereby the light supports are operatively connected with certain members of the vehicles steering gear whereby the lights will be automatically rotated in accordance with the change of direction of the steering wheel of the vehicle, and also to provide a'iiexible construction that. will `withstandthe shocks of the road and yet permit freedom of movement in the rotating parts without rattle.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective` view showing the dirigible lamp as mounted on the front axle of an automobile and its connection with the steering mechanism of the front wheels.

Figure 2 is a vertical section thro'ugh the axle and lamp supporting parts.

Figure 3 is a view of the bottom of the lamp post bracket showing its retaining ring construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- 1 designates the front axle of an automobile which may be of any ot the usual types, 2 the spindle of a steering knuckle 3; the latter' being rotatably fixed between the arms of a yoke et at the ends of the axle by means of a vertical king pin 5.

rl`he knuckle is controlled or steered by means of a rearwardly extending arm 6 that is connected pivotally at its rear end with a steering arm connecting rod 7, which in turn is .connected with the steering wheel (not shown) whereby a driver may control the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The parts embodied by the present invention comprise a substantially vertical headlight or search light bracket 8, having a horizontally turned lower end forming a base plate 9 which overlies and is securely attached to the axle 1 by means of the bolts 11 extended therethrough and lined in a plate that underlies the axle.

The base plate 9 has a circular opening 9 therethrough forwardly of the axle into which projects the hollow sleeve 12 formed on the 'under side of the headlight rotating lever 13. Thisvlever horizontally overlies the axle and at its rearward end is pivotally attached by bolt 14 to one end of a connecting link 15 which at its other end is pivotally attached by bolt 16 to the steering kunckle arm 6.

A vertical shaft or post 19 with a lamp 20, riGidly mounted onthe upper end thereof, is rotatably mounted within alined bearings in the bracket as at 18, and is ixed in the sleeve portion of the rotating lever at, 19. This shaft has a groove 21 cut therein in which a stud 22 of the rotating lever is slidably engaged, thus permitting a slight vertical but no rotary movement of the shaft within the lever 13. ln this manner and through the connections described any movement of the steering knuckle is com- .municated to the lamp which will accordingly be rotated in the same direction as the front wheels of the vehicle.

The rotating lever 13 has a groove 28 cut in the outer periphery of the lower end of the sleeve 12, in which fit the two sections of a retaining ring 23. '.lhis ring lits within a recess cut in the inner periphery of a ring 24 and holds the sections in place. The lower ends of the two rings are flush with one another and on the upper surface of the ring 2l rests a coiled spring 25, the upper coil of which is in contact with the base of a socket 2G formed in the undersidel of plate 9 about the `sleeve and within which ring 24 is movably held. This construction permits of a vertical and rotary movement of the shaft and lever, holds Ythe parts under spring tension` to prevent rattling and at the same time permits assembling and dismounting of the parts Without the use oi' tools. A small bracket 27, as shown in Figure 2, is rotatably secured to the shaft 17 and rigidly attached to the fender or adjacent part of the body in such Way as to hold the shaft vertically in place Without rattling against the fender opening. This bracket will have to vary in form with the type ot car. This bracket vvill not be required on search lights vith short shafts that do not pass through the tender.

It is evident that with the parts so constructed and assembled that the lights can be quickly, easily and securely att-ached, that they will absorb the shock of the road, be free from rattling noises and Will turn with the vehicle steering` mechanism.

ln'this manner the usual disadvantage resulting from the head and search lights being rigidly mounted on the vehicle 'traine is overcome, giving increased sal'ety to the driver .While making turns and to others Who may be traveling in vehicles or on toot.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secnre by' Letters Patent, is:

l. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination with the front axle and steering knuckle thereof, ot' a lamp supporting bracket rigidly fixed to the axle comprising a horizontal base plate and an upwardly directed standard; said base plate having an opening therethrough and said standard having a bearing vertically alined with the base opening, a lamp-rotating lever overlying the base plate and having a sleeve bea-ring at one end extended rotatably through said base plate Opening, a lamp supporting shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing of the standard and slidably keyed in said sleeve el the rotating lever, a locking ringlixct. on the lo a er end olf the sleeve and a spring bearing against said ring and base plate to yieldably retain the sleeve xvilfn the base plate opening, and a link pivotally cennecting` the rotating lever with the steering knuckle.

ln a vehicle el the crass described, tho combinationwith an axle and stee ing knuckle me" ed thereon, et a lamp supporting l. af et comprising a horizontal base plate that iii-ed rigidly to the axle and extending forwardly the'eof and then turned upwardly to iiorrn sul ially vertifal standard; said standard having a bearing at its upper end and said base plate having an opening therethrough 'forwardly oi the axle vertically alined with said bear-- ing and opening` into a socket ol. larger diameter formed concentrically therewith, in the under side oi' the base plate, a lamp rotating lever horizontally overlying the oase plate and extended rearwardly ell the axle having a sleev bearing` at its Yforward end extending downwardly and rotatably through said base plate opening and socket and having` an annular groove in its lower end portion, a sectional loc o' ring fitted in said groove, a retaining ring vertically slidable in said socket and enclosing the sections of the locking ring, a coiled spring` dispos-cd in the socket to bear against the base thereof and against the retaining ring, vertical lamp shaft rotatably contained in the standard bearing and slidably keyed at its lower end in the sleeve oiC the rotating lever, a lamp lixed to the upper end et the standard and an actuating link connecting the rotating lever and steering knuckle.

cSigned at Everett, Snohomish County, Washington, this 29th day of March, 1924:.

VILLIAM V. VAN ETTEN, 

